Immunomodulatory effect of Antrodia camphorata mycelia and culture filtrate.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Antrodia camphorata, a precious folkloric medicinal mushroom, has been used to treat tumorigenic diseases in Taiwan. This study was to investigate the innate immunity augmentation effects of different fractions prepared from hot water extracts of submerged cultured Antrodia camphorata (AC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cytokine induction potency of AC fraction in diluted peripheral blood culture was measured by ELISA. The effects of AC fraction on phagocytic activity and CD11b expression were measured by the ingestion of FITC-labeled Escherichia coli and by labeling with PE-labeled CD11b monoclonal antibody, respectively, using flow cytometry. The molecular mass of hot water-soluble polysaccharides and content of adenosine in AC fraction were determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and HPLC, respectively. RESULTS: The mycelia fraction, Fr. M II, and culture filtrate fractions, Fr. E II and Fr. E III, showed the strongest TNF-alpha and IL-6 induction effect as a function of their concentration. These fractions (20mug/ml) also showed marked activity in enhancing phagocytosis in human polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and monocytes. In parallel, the expression of CD11b, an early marker of PMN activation, was also up-regulated dose-dependently. Composition analysis suggested that immunomodulatory effect of mycelia is mainly attributed to the 10-20kDa polysaccharides and adenosine. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidences that Antrodia camphorata can modulate innate immunity and may serve as an adjuvant for tumor treatment.

Immunomodulatory effect of exo-polysaccharides from submerged cultured Cordyceps sinensis: enhancement of cytokine synthesis, CD11b expression, and phagocytosis.

Cordyceps sinensis is widely used as a traditional medicine for treatment of a wide variety of diseases or to maintain health. The immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides prepared from submerged cultured C. sinensis BCRC36421 was investigated in human peripheral blood. Results demonstrated that Fr. A (exo-polysaccharides, 0.025 approximately 0.1 mg/ml) induced the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 dose-dependently. Fr. A, as low as 0.025 mg/ml, could significantly augment surface expression of CD11b in monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Functional assay revealed that Fr. A (0.05 mg/ml) also elevated phagocytosis in monocytes and PMN. On the other hand, Fr. B (intracellular polysaccharides) only moderately induced TNF-alpha release, CD11b expression, and phagocytosis at the same concentrations. Our results indicate that the immunomodulatory components of submerged cultured C. sinensis mainly reside in the culture filtrate.

Ganoderma lucidum mycelia enhance innate immunity by activating NF-kappaB.

Ganoderma lucidum is a popular medicinal mushroom in China and Japan for its immunomodulatory and antitumor effects. The goal of this research is to investigate the effect of dried mycelia of Ganoderma lucidum produced by submerged cultivation on the enhancement of innate immune response. We found that Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (0.2-1.6 mg/ml) stimulated TNF-alpha and IL-6 production after 8h treatment in human whole blood. IFN-gamma release from human whole blood was also enhanced after 3 day-culture with Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (0.2-1.0mg/ml). However, Ganoderma lucidum mycelia did not potentiate nitric oxide production in RAW264.7 cells. To better understand the possible immuno-enhancement mechanisms involved, we focused on nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that the Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (1.6 mg/ml) activated kappaB DNA binding activity in RAW264.7 cells. These results provide supporting evidences for the immunomodulatory effect of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia.